Quiz: Howstuffworks

Interpret These Slang Words and Phrases and We’ll Guess Your Age

Zoe Samuel

Image: joshblake / E+ / Getty Images

About This Quiz

Theories about language and slang have changed over the years. In the past, there were few hard and fast rules about spelling, let alone word creation. With the advent of the dictionary, word choice suddenly took on a whole new meaning. Slang never stopped coming into existence, but the use of specific slang told the listener quite a lot. Slang choices say things about class, about education, about geographic origins, about what one aspires to and about one's intentions. Slang is about more than just use or misuse of words. It's about creating new, idiomatic expressions that give the speaker an avenue for self expression, either ruder, cruder or more specific, all to make a point.

Every generation has had its slang. The late 1800s produced the book "The Rogue's Lexicon," a compendium of street slang mostly used by the criminal classes in New York City. Subcultures produce their own slang, though they might think of that more as trade terminology. We've learned to control for culturally specific slang, coming up with a way to figure out your age by your interpretation of slang expressions. The accuracy of our test is absurd. Are you ready to put us to the test? Then let us put your slang knowledge to the test!

We hope you're wearing black. What does it mean when someone says "I'm dead"?

It means I'm laughing so hard I can't breathe.

It means I'm done!

It means I'm exhausted.

It means I've got to disappear.

Let's visit your old friends. What would it mean if your friend suddenly had an infestation of ankle-biters?

Ew! Bedbugs!

Rats!

Feral dogs!

Children!

You probably know someone on allergy meds. But who of the following people is on fleek?

Beyonce

A zeek

Eddie Vedder

Neil Armstrong

All right, pal! How would you react if someone told you it's time for a wig chop?

I'd show them I have my real hair.

I'd put up my dukes.

I'd opt for a fade.

I'd ask if I had to pay for it.

Get your running shoes ready. What would you do if someone said you had to beat feet?

I'd say I'm not doing that in front of anyone!

I'd say I'm tired of walking.

I'd say I must have stepped in something?

I'd agree we should get out of here!

Time to translate for us: What would you say it meant if someone or something is super "ginchy"?

Yeet!

Phat

Rad

Groovy

Woah, man! What's going on if you have a cow?

I'm a farmer.

I'm freaking out.

I'm doing pretty well in life.

I'm confused.

Here's a question for Salt Bae: When someone is salty, what's going on with them?

They're annoyed.

They're sweaty.

They're tired.

They're swearing.

Let's keep things odd. What do you mean if your response is "not even"?

Totally different

Not quite

Doubt it

Close but no cigar

Dude! Is being gnarly a good thing?

It isn't!

Yeah! It means you're tough.

It's the best thing you can be, if you're being something, b!

I don't think so, probably.

What would you say was going on if someone had it made in the shade?

They were building something cool away from prying eyes.

They were kissing someone in private.

They were out of danger.

They were riding high on the hog.

Let's turn a noun into a verb. What does it mean if you're adulting?

It means doing grown-up things for yourself that you'd usually leave to your parents to take care of for you.

Let's load a word with tons of meaning. What is "dope"?

Don't worry, we won't make you do this -- but why would you volunteer to be gagged with a spoon?

If I was choking already.

I wouldn't!

In protest.

Because I was already gagging on soup.

Here's something that sounds like it could be a popular baby name these days: What's a zeek?

A peck on the cheek

A whiff of reek

A hot geek

A little peek

We have a Zen koan for you. What does a thirsty person want?

Romance

Alcohol

Success

Water

This one reads like a graduate philosophy thesis: If something is butter, what is it?

Unhealthy

Tasty

Smooth

Slippery

Let's be conversational. How would you cut the gas?

Ride a bike to work.

Get a Tesla.

Eat fewer beans.

Shut your mouth!

This one sounds industrial to us. What the heck is grindage?

Sk8ing

Damage

Food

Time

What's your take on the meaning of "Daddy-O"?

Someone's weird dad.

It's someone's grandpa.

That's a fuddy-duddy.

That's one cool person right there.

Look in the mirror. What does it mean to glow up?

To blossom

To get a makeover

To get made up

To be radioactive

Put on your high school math hat for this one. What quality does something have if it's tubular?

It's long.

It's round.

It's cool.

It's fashionable.

Remember that "chassis" is pronounced "CHASS-ee." What might it mean if someone told you about your classy chassis?

I'd assume they were insulting me.

I guess they like my car.

I'm assuming they're being sarcastic about my looks.

I'm assuming they like the way I look.

Tap into your inner Disney princess. Why would you trust the word from the bird?

Because Big Bird seems honest.

Because birds see all and know all.

Because The Birds were a cool band.

Because birds don't lie!

Brevity is the soul of wit. What does it mean if someone says simply, "word"?

Nothing.

It's rude.

It's cool.

Word means exactly what is sounds like it means.

This one sounds like a monster from a horror movie! Who or what is a snacc?

Someone really hot

Someone really small

Someone who can make things happen

Someone totally useless

Think hard on this one. How would you respond if asked "what's your damage?"

You're my damage!

I'm fine! Are you okay?

There's nothing wrong with me!

Should I check my fender?

We promise this one's not as dirty as it sounds. What's going on if something razzes your berries?

I'm insulted.

It grazes my skin.

It makes fun of my foibles.

It makes me pretty happy.

Let's fly to Italy. What does it mean if something is Gucci?

It's very cool.

It's very fancy.

It's very expensive.

It's Italian.

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